Why the Postal Service Should Not Reduce Priority Mail Service Standards

All the details are not known about what the Postal Service will propose when it makes its presentation to the Postal Regulatory Commission about changing First Class service standards.  Given that Priority Mail has nearly the same service standard as First Class mail, it is possible that Priority Mail service standards could be affected. 

The following maps from United Parcel Service show why the Postal Service cannot afford to reduce Priority Mail service standards if it wants Priority Mail to remain service competitive for zone 2, 3 and a significant portion of zone 4 parcels. 

Silver Spring MD

Saint Paul MN

Los Angeles, California

Bluefield, WV 

Sioux City, IA

Temple TX

Philadelphia, MS

Dallas, TX